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JVC CD Player Review - XL-Z232BK
CD Players
The following words could be used to describe a fine red wine: full-bodied, warm, silky, seductive. They also happen to characterize the sound of JVC's XL-Z232BK single-disc CD player, which, like a marvelous but moderately priced wine, satisfies the senses without emptying the pocketbook.
On the surface, the XL-Z232BK appears to be nothing more than an average $200 CD player. Its profile is slim and it offers standard features (play, program, track skip, and so on) but little else. The XL-Z232BK uses a one-bit digital-to-analog converter with an 8x oversampling filter--again, relatively standard stuff.
But the sound of the XL-Z232BK is anything but middle of the road. The quality is, in our experience, remarkable in this price range, and a very good argument in favor of buying a single-disc (rather than a multidisc) CD player. It's not that megachangers can't sound good, only that it's easier to make sonic refinements when the CD-playing mechanics are simple.
Vocals, for instance, have expressiveness, balance, and a "there"-ness that really pulls us into the music. The bass is very fine, tight, and punchy, with good body and definition. The midrange sounds consistently open, rich, and textured. And--unlike so many sub-$500 models--the XL-Z232BK has a sweet, silky top end.
Granted, the XL-Z232BK isn't perfect. The treble sounds a bit rolled-off and the player doesn't render the final degree of detail found in some higher-end players. But then, you'll probably never feel fatigue while listening to the XL-Z232BK, and the same can't be said of many brighter, more detailed-sounding players (which often exaggerate the high frequencies).
An optical digital output allows connection to a digital recorder, such as a minidisc or CD player, but also lets you integrate the player with a surround receiver. The audiophile in us would have preferred a higher-quality coaxial output, but when the analog outputs sound this good for this little, this is a small complaint.
The bottom line: JVC's XL-Z232BK is simply one of the most musically satisfying CD players we know for under $1,000. Considering that its list price is a mere $200, it's a fabulous buy
JVC CD Player Technical Specification - XL-Z232BK
Disc capacity: 1
Changer type: Single-disc drawer
CD-R: Yes
CD-RW: No
HDCD decoding: No
Group filing: N/A
Time display: Yes
Intro scan: Yes
Play exchange: N/A
CD Text: No
Repeat play: All, track
Random/shuffle disc play: Yes
CD programming: 32 tracks
Pitch adjust: No
A-B repeat: No
Direct disc access: N/A
Direct track access: Yes
Remote control type: Push-button, full-function
Megachanger control: N/A
Remote component linking: Yes
Coaxial digital-audio outputs: 0
Optical digital-audio outputs: 1
Analog-audio stereo outputs: 1 pair
Headphone jack: No
Headphone volume control: N/A
Variable output: No
Digital-to-analog audio converter: 1-bit P.E.M. D.D
Oversampling (playback): 8
Playing-time adjust: No
Peak search: No
Signal-to-noise ratio (playback): 106 dB
CD dynamic range: 98 dB
Channel separation (playback): 94 dB
THD (playback): 0.0025
Power consumption: 10 watts
Width: 17.19 inches
Height: 4.00 inches
Depth: 11.13 inches
Weight: 7.30 pounds
Warranty, parts: 1 year
Warranty, labor: 1 year
